NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY OF THE BLUE COMPACT DWARF GALAXY MARKARIAN 59

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/1984· OSTI ID:21371835

Izotov, Yuri I ^[1]; Thuan, Trinh X

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1. Main Astronomical Observatory, Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences, 27 Zabolotnoho Str., Kyiv 03680 (Ukraine)

We present near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic observations of the blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxy Markarian 59 (Mrk 59), obtained with the TripleSpec spectrograph mounted on the 3.5 m Apache Point Observatory telescope. The NIR spectrum of Mrk 59, which covers the 0.90 {mu}m-2.40 {mu}m wavelength range, shows atomic hydrogen, molecular hydrogen, helium, sulfur, and iron emission lines. The NIR data have been supplemented by a Sloan Digital Sky Survey optical spectrum. We found extinction in the BCD to be low (A(V) = 0.24 mag) and to be the same in both the optical and NIR ranges. The NIR light does not reveal hidden star formation. The H{sub 2} emission comes from dense clumps and the H{sub 2} vibrational emission-line intensities can be accounted for by photon excitation. No shock excitation is needed. A CLOUDY photoionization model of Mrk 59 reproduces well the observed optical and NIR emission-line fluxes. There is no need to invoke sources of ionization other than stellar radiation. The [Fe II] 1.257 and 1.643 {mu}m emission lines, often used as supernova shock indicators in low-excitation high-metallicity starburst galaxies, cannot play such a role in high-excitation low-metallicity H II regions such as Mrk 59.

• OSTI ID: 21371835
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 703, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/703/2/1984; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
ABUNDANCE
EMISSION
EXCITATION
GALAXIES
HELIUM
HYDROGEN
INFRARED SPECTRA
IRON
ISOCHRONOUS CYCLOTRONS
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHOTONS
STARS
STELLAR RADIATION
TELESCOPES
ACCELERATORS
BOSONS
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
CYCLOTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY-LEVEL TRANSITIONS
FLUIDS
GASES
IONIZATION
MASSLESS PARTICLES
METALS
NONMETALS
RADIATIONS
RARE GASES
SPECTRA
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS